STORY: U.S. first lady Melania Trump chaired a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on children and education in conflict on Monday (March 2), two days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel launched attacks on Iran that prompted a U.N. warning about child safety.

It was the first time a spouse of any serving world leader has chaired a meeting of the 15-member Security Council, the U.N. body charged with maintaining international peace and security. The plan was announced last week before the launch of the U.S. and Israeli strikes.

It comes after the U.S. took over the monthly rotating presidency of the council, and was another sign of how Trump has personalized U.S. foreign policy by involving friends and family in major issues.

Melania Trump's office said her aim was to emphasize education as a way to advance tolerance and world peace in the meeting, titled "Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict."

"The U.S. stands with all of the children throughout the world. I hope soon peace will be yours," U.S. first lady Melania Trump said at the Security Council.

"We are aware of reports from Iran about the death of possibly dozens of children, allegedly due to a strike on an elementary school in Minab (in Iran). U.S. authorities have announced they are investigating these reports," said Rosemary DiCarlo, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peacebuilding.

"Globally, one in five children is living in or fleeing a conflict zone, totaling 473 million children," added Dicarlo.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: U.S. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP PRESIDING OVER A UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING AS THE UNITED STATES ASSUMES THE BODY'S PRESIDENCY IN MARCH. COMMENTS FROM U.S. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP AND THE UNITED NATIONS UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AND PEACEBUILDING AFFAIRS, ROSEMARY DICARLO.

RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT.

SHOWS: UNITED NATIONS (MARCH 2, 2026) (UNTV - Access all)

1. WIDE OF SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBER

2. VARIOUS OF U.S. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP WALKING INTO SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBER

3. SECURITY COUNCIL CALL TO ORDER

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP, SPEAKING:

“Good afternoon. The 10,113 meeting of the Security Council is called to order.”

5. WIDE OF SECURITY COUNCIL

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP, SAYING:

“The provisional agenda for this meeting is maintenance of international peace and security. Children, technology and education in conflict.”

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UN UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AND PEACE BUILDING AFFAIRS, ROSEMARY DICARLO, SAYING: [VISUAL STARTS WITH WIDE OF SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBER]

“Thank you, Madam President. On behalf of the Secretary General, I want to thank you for your leadership in organizing today's discussion. This debate comes at a moment of exceptional relevance. Today, we face the highest number of armed conflicts since the Second World War. The number of civilians killed in these conflicts is the highest in decades. A reality is clear. When conflicts erupt, children are among those most severely affected. We have been reminded of this truth over the last two days. Schools in Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman have closed and moved to remote learning owing to the ongoing military operations in the region. And we are aware of the reports from Iran about the death of possibly dozens of children, allegedly as the result of a strike that hit an elementary school in the town of Minab. United States authorities have announced they are looking into these reports. Globally, one in every five children is living in or fleeing a conflict zone. This adds up to 473 million children.”

8. SIDE VIEW OF MELANIA TRUMP AND ROSEMARY DICARLO

9. WIDE OF SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBER

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UN UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AND PEACE BUILDING AFFAIRS, ROSEMARY DICARLO, SAYING:

“In violent conflicts, schools can be one of the only safe spaces that protect children from recruitment, trafficking and exploitation. Schools can safeguard health and hygiene, provide psychosocial support and connect families to essential services. Education in conflict zones is life saving and life sustaining. And yet schools, teachers and education infrastructure continue to suffer violence.”

11. ( SOUNDBITE) (English) UN UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AND PEACE BUILDING AFFAIRS, ROSEMARY DICARLO, SAYING: [VISUAL STARTS WITH WIDE OF SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBER]

“Madam President, the most effective way to protect children from conflict is to prevent and end wars. Building peace is at the heart what the United Nations does. We must all work together toward this goal. Thank you, Madam President.”

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP, SPEAKING:

“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as First Lady of the United States. First, my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their heroes, who sacrificed their lives for freedom. Their bravery and dedication will always be remembered. I extend my earnest wishes for a swift and smooth recovery to all those who have been injured. You are in my thoughts and prayers during these challenging times. The U.S. stands with all of the children throughout the world. I hope soon peace will be yours.”

13. WIDE OF SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBER

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP, SPEAKING:

“Peace does not need to be fragile. Enduring peace will be achieved when knowledge and understanding are fully valued within our all societies.”

15. WIDE OF SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBER

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP, SPEAKING:

“A nation that makes learning sacred protects its books, its language, its science, and its mathematics, it protects its future. This leads to something powerful, to greater understanding, moral reasoning and tolerance of others. Peace. Children raised in a culture rooted in intelligence, develop confidence, innovate, build, compete and maintain a deep value system. Their knowledge fosters empathy for others, transcending geography, religion, race, gender, and even local norms. They become caring people. But children raised in culture rooted in ignorance, are surrounded by disorder and sometimes even conflict. These societies are filled with rigid thinkers who embrace prejudice and shun human dignity.”

17. WIDE OF SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBER

18. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP, SPEAKING:

“The path to peace depends on us taking responsibility to empower our children through education and technology.”

19. WIDE OF SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBER

20. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP, SPEAKING:

“I encourage you to pledge to safeguard learning in our communities and promote access to higher education for all. I implore you to build a future generation of leaders who embrace peace through education. Thank you.”

21. WIDE OF SECURITY COUNCIL CHAMBER